Improvement in fuel-boxes



W; MQQARROLL. Fuel-Boxes No. 202,847. Patented April 23,1878.

M w I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM MOOARROLL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HIS RIGHTTO ANDREW YOUNG, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN FUEL-BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 202,847, dated April23, 1878 application filed September 3, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, WILLIAM McOARRoLL, ofChicago, Cook county, State of Illinois, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Fuel-Boxes, of which the following is a fulldescription, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a front elevation, and Fig. 2 a vertical section.

The object of my invention is to so construct a fuel-box that differentkinds of fuel may be kept separate, to make the box neat and attractive,and to provide a place for the shovel, tongs, or other stove or grateappliance; and also to make it movable, so that its position may beeasily and readily changed for convenience in use and in filling; andits nature consists in arranging the several compartments and openings,as is hereinafter more fully described.

In the drawings, A represents the body or case; B, the top lid; 0, thefront lid; D, the bottom of the main compartment; E, the bottom of thebody or case; F, a drawer; G, the main or coal compartment; H, thekindlingcompartment; I, casters or wheels; J, an incliglie; K, a sieve,and L a poker or shakingro The fuel-box is made of wood or othersuitable material, and of a size to suit circumstances.

For kitchen or house use, a capacity of six or eight ordinary hodsfulwill be sutlicient, while for offices it may be made to hold a quarteror half ton of coal, or even more.

The box is divided into compartments, as shown. Thelarger one, G, isdesigned for coal, and the smaller one, H, in the upper back part, isdesigned for kindling-wood, charcoal, or other kindling material. In thesmaller boxes the board J is to be omitted, and it may be omitted in thelarger ones.

The front lid or door O is carried slightly forward at its upper edge,and When closed is in the inclined position shown, so as to lap over thecoal that inclines forward at the opening. By carrying the top of thisdoor or lid forward, as shown, it will lean against the box, and standin position, when opened, without catch or fastening to hold it.

The bottom Dmay, if desired, have its upper face zinc or sheet ironlined, and by inclinin g that portion which projects beyond the throator opening upward the front opening may be enlarged without causing thecoal to fall far enough forward to interfere with closing the lid ordoor 0.

It is evident that this box will subserve a useful purpose by omittingthe parts EF and attaching the casters I directly to the bottom D; butit will improve its usefulness to add these parts, for the drawer F isnot only useful as a convenient place for holding the shovel and otherappliances, but by enlarging it and lining it, or making it of metal, itmay be used as a temporary ash box. By placing the box on caster orother wheels, it may not only be run toward or from the stove or grate,but it may be run to the outer door of the building, or into a hall forfilling, and thereby save the room from the dust usual in fillingfuel-boxes or in moving ashes. The lid B covers both compartments, G andH.

By making afuel-box as shown, it becomes an ornamental piece offurniture instead of an unsightly box. Its use is apparent from itsconstruction.

The drawer F, when used for ashes, is drawn out and the sieve K drawn tothe front end of the drawer, when the ashes are dumped onto the sieve. Acommon poker or a special rod, L, is then passed through an opening inthe front end of the drawer, and connected with the sieve by a staple orother loop. The drawer is then returned to place, when the sieve can beshaken till the coals and ashes are separated. When the sieve is pushedback it does not interfere with the use of the drawer as ashovel-holder.

WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- Thecombination of the box A E, having the compartments G H and lids B O,with the drawer F, substantially as and for the purposes described.

WM. MCCARROLL.

Witnesses:

E. A. WEST, 0. W. Bonn.

